You brush and floss. You take care of your teeth, but for some reason your jaw hurts. In fact, it’s throbbing. You pay a visit to your Dentist to see what’s wrong and that is when you discover your pain is due to a wisdom tooth.

Your Dentist recommends surgery to remove it, but what should you do?

What are Wisdom Teeth?Wisdom teeth are otherwise known as your third molars and are located at the very back of your upper and lower jaw. They get their name because they often appear in your late teens to early twenties – old enough when you’ve gained some experience and “wisdom”. However, not everyone gets wisdom teeth and some people are born without them.

Why do they cause problems?Wisdom teeth tend to be problematic if they cannot grow out properly. A wisdom tooth is “impacted” if it gets stuck in your gums and is unable to reach its normal position. Impacted wisdom teeth can be painful and cause problems with chewing, swollen gums, infection and also damage neighbouring teeth.

It is possible for wisdom teeth to be partially impacted. Meaning the tooth has broken through the games. Partially impacted wisdom teeth can cause cavities and gum disease because they become more difficult to clean.

When should Wisdom Teeth be removed?It is best to have impacted wisdom teeth extracted between the ages of 16 – 20 years of age. The reason is they are easier to remove because your bones and roots are still soft and developing. As you age, the bones surrounding your teeth harden, making them more difficult to remove and also making surgery more risky.

Risks with having Wisdom Teeth removed:Like any surgery, there are always risks. After your wisdom teeth are removed you may experience:

Pain and swelling at the extraction site

Bleeding that may last up to 24hours

Difficulty opening and closing your mouth

Dry socket, which causes discomfort and happens when one of the blood clots in the open tooth socket becomes dislodged

What are your options?Realize that not all wisdom teeth need to be removed. Some people have enough room in their jaw for wisdom teeth to grow. If impacted wisdom teeth aren’t causing you problems, there’s no reason why you “have to” have them removed. But also keep in mind that not all wisdom teeth cause pain and you may not even realize you have them. That is why it’s important to see your Dentist regularly so he/she can examine you and check for potential problems.

Dr Paulo Pinho and his team of dental professionals at Widsom Teeth Professionals Sydney are experienced with dealing with a wide variety of teeth problems and have extensive training in oral surgery, including the removal of wisdom teeth.

Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) is a temporary dental condition that sometimes occurs after the extraction of a permanent adult tooth, including a wisdom tooth. A dry socket occurs when the blood clot at the site of the extraction becomes dislodged, exposing underlying bone and nerves and causes increasing pain.

A dry socket is the most common complication follow tooth extractions, such as the removal of impacted wisdom teeth. A dry socket usually occurs about three days following a tooth extraction.

Signs and Symptoms Can Include:

Severe steady pain within a few days of a tooth extraction

Partial or total loss of the blood clot at the tooth extraction site

Pain radiating from the socket to your ear or eye

Bad breath or a foul odour coming from your mouth

Unpleasant taste in your mouth

Causes of a Dry Socket:

Following a tooth extraction, normally a blood clot forms at the site. This clot serves as a protective layer over the underlying bone and nerve endings. The clot provides the foundation for the growth of new tissue and bone. In some cases, if the clot doesn’t form properly or is physically dislodged before complete healing. With the clot gone, bone and nerves in the socket are exposed to air, food and fluids. This can cause intense pain.Risk Factors:

Factors that can increase your risk of developing a dry socket can include:

Smoking and tobacco use

Taking oral contraceptives

Not following post-extraction guidelines

Previous cases of a dry socket

Complications of a Dry Socket:

Pain

Time of work or school

Delayed healing

Infection

When to See a Dentist:

Initially when you have had a tooth extracted, any discomfort you experience generally gets better with each day. However if you develop new or worsening pain in the days after your tooth extraction we advise contacting your Dentist or Oral Surgeon so that you can get properly evaluated and treated.

What to Expect from Your Dentist or Oral Surgeon:

Your Dentist or Oral Surgeon is likely to ask you questions about your symptoms. He or She may ask:

When did you begin experiencing symptoms?

Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?

How severe are your symptoms?

What, if anything seems to improve your symptoms?

What, if anything seems to worsen your symptoms?

Diagnosis of a Dry Socket:

Severe pain following a tooth extraction is often enough for your Dentist or Oral Surgeon to suspect a dry socket. Your Dentist or Oral Surgeon will also ask about your other symptoms and examine your mouth. They will check to see if you have a blood clot in your tooth socket and whether you have exposed bone.

Once treatment is started, you may begin to feel some relief in just a matter of minutes. Pain and other symptoms should continue to improve over the next few days. Complete healing typically goes smoothly and generally takes about 10 to 14 days.

Prevention of a Dry Socket:

Steps that both you and your Dentist or Oral Surgeon take may go a long way in helping prevent a dry socket or help reduce your risk. Some research suggests that treatment with certain medications such as antibiotics before and after oral surgery may reduce the risk of developing a dry socket.

Following Tooth Extraction Surgery:

Avoid spitting for the first few days

Don’t drink with a straw for the first few days

Take the advised medication as recommended

Bite on gauze as prescribed and change it only as prescribed

Don’t drink carbonated drinks for two to three days after your tooth extraction

Gently brush teeth adjacent to the extraction site

Don’t rinse your mouth vigorously or excessively especially in the first 24 hours

Resist the urge to touch the extraction site with your tongue or fingers

Eat soft foods

Dr Paulo Pinho at Widsom Teeth Professionals Sydney has extensive training in oral surgery, including the removal of wisdom teeth. Dr Pinho also has developed a great protocol to prevent and treat dry sockets. To learn more, call Dr Paulo Pinho at Wisdom Teeth Professionals in Sydney on 1300 217 858. The information contained in this article is intended to give you general information and it is not intended to replace professional medical advice.